Sunday 30 April 2017

Moth Update for VC60 - Friday 21st & Friday 27th April 2017

I put my moth light out on Friday 21st April in Nether Kellet.

Common Quaker 1
Hebrew Character 1
Parsnip Moth 2

Common Quaker

Hebrew Character

Parsnip Moth


The following moth was attracted to the light and rested on the outside of the window.

Agonopterix alstromeriana (?)

On Friday 27th April 2017, the following moths were trapped and recorded. However the highlight of the night was a low overhead flyby of a Tawny Owl. The moth light lit the underside of the owl and the moment was amazing.

Double-stripped Pug 1
Parsnip Moth 1
Flame Carpet 1
Common Quaker 1
Agonopterix hercliana 1

Agonopterix hercliana

Common Quaker

Flame Carpet

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Bullfinches

At the weekend I was thrilled to see a pair of Bullfinches using our bird feeders at Nether Kellet and by the end of Sunday there were two pairs. At home in Stockton, we have rarely seen Bullfinch in our garden, so these birds were extra special. Despite taking photographs through the window, so not to disturb the birds, it was good to get a record.





In the weekend sunshine, the wild flowers were putting on a show.

Wild Strawberry

Forget-me-not






Garden Moth Update - Week 7 & 8

For GMS Week 7 the trap was out early on Wednesday 12th April, but an overnight minimum temperature of 5.3C meant that I only recorded a Common Quaker.

Whereas for GMS Week 8 the temperature had increased up to 7.8C and as more species emerge this week will hopefully be a turning point for the coming weeks. So on Thursday 20th April, I trapped the following moths:

Small Quaker 1
Light Brown Apple Moth 3
Double-stripped Pug 3
Garden Carpet 1

Small Quaker

Garden Carpet 

Double-stripped Pug



Sunday 16 April 2017

Agonopterix heracliana

First moth of the year, since returning to Nether Kellet, in Lancashire (VC60) was Agonopterix heraciliana.


It is a common moth throughout the UK and is seen on the wing between September to April.

Blackthorn Blossom


Garganey at Leighton Moss on 15th April 2017

We visited RSPB Leighton Moss on 15th April 2017, to see a male Garganey that had recently arrived after migrating to the UK. The bird was showing from Lillian's Hide, although it spent all the time feeding with it head almost under the water.



Sadly the light was quite poor so the photographs are at best a record.

Also present was approximately 200 Black-tailed Godwit that included some birds in summer plumage. There were several Little Egrets visible with Swallow and Sand Martin flying above the pool.

Monday 10 April 2017

More night time visits

The wildlife camera certainly opens up a new world of discovery for night time visitors to our garden.








Night time Visitors - 7th April 2017

A welcome night time visitor to the garden on Friday 7th April 2017. I hope the Hedgehog visits continue throughout the year until hibernation.







Sunday 9 April 2017

Garden Moth Update - March

The new GMS season started on 4th March 2017, so I put my moth trap out and hoped for a good start. Unfortunately no moths were trapped and the overnight temperature dropped to 0C.

On Friday 11th March, despite a warmer overnight temperature of 10.9C, I trapped my first moth of 2017 which was a Agonoptrix heracliana


Friday 18th March 2017, I trapped 1 Hebrew Character with a mild overnight temperature of 10.2C.

Friday 24th March 2017 was a cold evening with clear skies and an overnight temperature of 1.2C and I trapped one Clouded Drab. The poor results continued.


On Friday 31st March, I was hoping for better results than the previous weeks. The overnight low temperature was 8.9C and I trapped six moths of four species.

1 Double-stripped Pug
1 Common Quaker
1 Small Quaker
3 Hebrew Character